Flow over an airfoil

Aim :

The aim of this analysis is to study the lift and drag forces for different angle of attacks.

What is an airfoil?

An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is the cross-sectional shape of a wing, blade (of a propeller, rotor, or turbine), or sail (as seen in cross-section).

An airfoil-shaped body moving through a fluid produces an aerodynamic force. The component of this force perpendicular to the direction of motion is called lift. The component parallel to the direction of motion is called drag. Subsonic flight airfoils have a characteristic shape with a rounded leading edge, followed by a sharp trailing edge, often with a symmetric curvature of upper and lower surfaces. Foils of similar function designed with water as the working fluid are called hydrofoils.

Angle of attack (AOA):

is the angle between the oncoming air or relative wind and a reference line on the airplane or wing. Sometimes, the reference line is a line connecting the leading edge and trailing edge at some average point on the wing. Most commercial jet airplanes use the fuselage centerline or longitudinal axis as the reference line. It makes no difference what the reference line is, as long as it is used consistently.

Geometry:

Mesh: Basic Mesh is used where the computational domain is maintained as follows:

Boundary conditions:

External flow simulation

Fluid : air

Initial Velocity: 600m/s

Chord Length: 1m

Obtained Velocity Cut Plots of Various Angle of Attacks

For 0 deg AOA

Results:

For 2 deg AOA

For 4 deg AOA

For 6 deg AOA:

For 8 deg AOA:

For 10 deg AOA:

Conclusions:

as AOA increases drag force also increaeses but Lift force increases Rapidly

Velocity of air on foil increases with increase in AOA